When selling
your home, the goal is to sell it quickly for the highest price while investing
as little as possible in renovations. With a limited budget and a little
effort, you can greatly increase your home's appeal by focusing on what
prospective buyers can see on their first visit. Here are a few recommendations
from professional home estimators for preparing a house for sale and staging it
for showings:
Tip #1: Refresh the Exterior
First
impressions count when it comes to selling a home. Most buyers won’t even leave
their car if they don’t find the exterior appealing. The best ways to improve
your exterior include:
·
Repairing and/or
replacing trims, shutters, gutters, shingles, mailboxes, window screens,
walkways and the driveway.
·
Painting siding,
trim and shutters and lamp and mailbox posts.
·
Pressure washing
vinyl siding, roofs, walkways and the driveway.
·
Washing windows.
Tip #2: Spruce Up the Lawn and Landscape
Home buyers
associate the condition of your lawn and landscaping with the condition of your
home’s interior. By improving the outside, you affect buyers’ impression of the
entire property.The best ways to enhance the yard include:
·
Mowing and edging
thelawn.
·
Seeding,
fertilizing and weeding the lawn.
·
Keeping up with
regular lawn maintenance by frequent watering.
·
Trimming and/or
removing overgrown trees, shrubs and hedges.
·
Weeding and
mulching plant beds.
·
Planting colorful
seasonal flowers in existing plant beds.
·
Removing trash,
especially along fences and underneath hedges.
·
Sweeping and
weeding the street curb along your property.
Tip #3: Create an Inviting Entrance
The front
door to your home should invite buyers to enter. The best ways to improve your
entry include:
·
Painting the
front door in a glossy, cheerful color that complements the exterior.
·
Cleaning,
polishing and/or replacing the door knocker, locks and handles.
·
Repairing and/or
replacing the screen door, the doorbell, porch lights and house numbers.
·
Placing a new welcome
mat and a group of seasonal potted plants and flowers by the entry.
Tip #4: Reduce Clutter and Furniture
A buyer
cannot envision living in your home without seeing it. A home filled with
clutter or even too much furniture distracts buyers from seeing how they can
utilize the space your home offers. If you have limited storage space, you may
want to consider renting a temporary storage unit to place items you wish to
keep. The best ways to improve your home include:
·
Holding a garage
sale to prepare for your move, getting rid of unnecessary items.
·
Removing clutter
such as books, magazines, toys, tools, supplies and unused items from counter
tops, open shelves, storage closets, the garage and basements.
·
Storing out-of-season
clothing and shoes out of sight to make bedroom closets seem roomier.
·
Removing any
visibly damaged furniture.
·
Organizing
bookshelves, closets, cabinets and pantries. Buyers will inspect everything!
·
Putting away your
personal photographs, unless they showcase the home. Let buyers see themselves
in your home!
·
De-personalize
rooms as much as you can.
Tip #5: Clean, Clean, Clean
The
cleanliness of your home also influences a buyer's perception of its condition.
The appearance of the kitchen and bathrooms will play a considerable role in a
buyer's decision process, so pay particular attention to these areas. The best
ways to improve this include:
·
Cleaning windows,
fixtures, hardware, ceiling fans, vent covers and appliances.
·
Cleaning carpets,
area rugs and draperies.
·
Cleaning inside the
refrigerator, the stove and all cabinets.
·
Removing stains
from carpets, floors, counters, sinks, baths, tile, walls and grout.
·
Eliminating house
odors, especially if you have pets.
·
Considering air
fresheners or potpourri.
Tip #6: Make Minor Repairs
The small
stuff does count, especially with first-time home buyers. Without dismissing
the importance of repairing major items such as a leaky roof or plumbing, you
do not need to spend money on replacing these items. Instead, focus on the
minor repairs that will make your home visually appealing. The best ways to
improve your home include:
·
Repairing
ceilings and wall cracks.
·
Repairing
faucets, banisters, handrails, cabinets, drawers, doors, floors and tile.
·
Caulking and
grouting tubs, showers, sinks and tile.
·
Adding fresh paint
to ceilings, walls, trim, doors and cabinets.
·
Tightening door
handles, drawer pulls, light switches and electrical plates.
·
Lubricating door
hinges and locks.
Tip #7: Showcase the Kitchen
The heart of
any home is the kitchen. If you are going to spend any money on renovations,
this is the one area where you will see the greatest return. Even with a modest
budget, focusing on a few key areas can make a great difference in getting the
asking price for your property. The best ways to showcase the kitchen include:
·
Replacing cabinet
doors and hardware.
·
Installing under-cabinet
lighting.
·
Replacing light
fixtures.
·
Replacing
outdated shelving with pantry and cabinet organizers to maximize space.
·
Baking cookies or
cupcakes for a showing, to create a homey smell.
Tip #8: Stage Furniture
Furniture
placement can enhance the space of your home while giving buyers an idea of how
to best utilize the space with their own belongings. Take some time to rethink
how different areas in your house could be used. Some ideas to think about
include:
·
Moving couches
and chairs away from walls in your sitting and family rooms to create cozy
conversational groups.
·
Creating a
reading corner in the master bedroom.
·
Clearing an empty
room to set up a reading space.
·
Turning an
awkward space into a home office.
·
Setting the
dining room table with your best china.
·
Set wine glasses
in front of the fireplace or next to a Jacuzzi tub.
Tip #9: Light Up the House
Create a
sense of openness and cheerfulness in your home through its lighting. To
improve the lighting try:
·
Opening shades
and drapes to let the sunshine warm and brighten rooms.
·
Installing
brighter light bulbs in rooms that tend to be dark.
·
Adding additional
lamps for ambient lighting.
·
Turning on all
the lights for a showing.
Tip #10: Add Fresh Touches
You can
easily add color and style to your home by adding fresh touches throughout.
Some ideas to consider include:
·
Placing fresh
floral arrangements in the entry and master bedroom.
·
Placing bowls of
bright-colored fruit in the family room and the kitchen.
·
Filling an empty
corner with a potted leafy plant.
·
Setting new
handsoap in the bathrooms.
·
Displaying fresh
towels near sinks.
Print This Page